Sinn Féin has committed to abolish domestic water charges in Government, and we would not pursue arrears for these same charges. Sinn Féin has published two pieces of legislation to both abolish water charges and enshrine in the Constitution the right of the people to the retention of water services and infrastructure in public ownership.

Sinn Féin has a longstanding position of support for LGBT equality in all dimensions of life and law. This includes the equal right to legal recognition of same-sex marriage – a right for which Sinn Féin campaigned passionately and successfully in the 2015 referendum - and the equal right to found a family, including by adoption. It also includes full legal recognition of the preferred/acquired gender of transgender people. In this 2014 document we make 10 key proposals for LGBT equality.

Sinn Féin support policing north and south and the operational
independence of both the PSNI and An Garda Síochána. Pivotal to this is
to have accountability mechanisms in place which command public
confidence in how these public services are delivered. In this 2014
submission to the Dublin Government we made the case for reforms to
bring about a new beginning to policing in the South including the
introduction of an Independent Policing Authority.

The State can tackle housing need but this requires political will and investment. In this 2014 document on social housing in the 26 counties Sinn Féin advocates investment in a programme of house building, reform of rental assistance, the introduction of rent controls, greater provision for people with disabilities, travellers and those leaving situations of domestic violence, and more resources to address homelessness and rough sleeping.

Young people across Europe were hit hardest by the economic crisis. If young people are to be given a fighting chance to remain in this state and attain decent work for decent pay there needs to be better cross- sectoral co-operation between departments. This requires political will and imagination. This 2014 document makes a series of proposals to tackle youth unemployment and face down emigration.

Almost 70% of people employed in Ireland are employed in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The greatest potential for jobs growth is within the SME sector. In this 2014 document, Sinn Féin outlined 10 steps to effectively assist SMEs to develop and create jobs now.

There are approximately 70 million citizens across the globe who claim Irish roots. Over the centuries the Irish have been forced to leave our homeland in order to find work and a better future for their families. We take huge pride in our diaspora. It is of profound importance that we do all in our power to foster and ensure the strengthening of positive relationships and connections. To do so, Sinn Féin believes that we need a diaspora strategy which is government-led and fully resourced.

Seven years after the onset of the economic crisis, some progress has been made in instilling better corporate governance on State boards. However, there remains a worrying lack of State imposed standards, and monitoring of those standards, for company boards. This 2014 document outlines 5 clear proposals to promote better, accountable and transparent governance.

Sinn Fein is committed to developing renewable energy, greatly reducing Ireland’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and eventually transforming the country into a renewable energy exporter. Here in this 2014 submission on revisions to the 26 counties’ wind energy planning guidelines we make proposals to ensure that the development of wind-farms is subject to meaningful consultation with local communities and that the benefits of energy production are felt locally first and foremost.

The political system has failed the people of Ireland. Public disillusionment has grown as the role of the Government and the Establishment parties in bringing about the economic crisis has become more apparent. This has been exacerbated by revelations of corruption, outrageous expenses claims and an ineffectual Oireachtas. Sinn Féin believes that it is time for fundamental political reform.

This September 2013 document is the culmination of a year-long series of grassroots community engagements and consultation led by the Sinn Féin leadership as part of our Defending Rural Ireland campaign. This discussion document examines what change is required to reverse the cycle of decline across rural Ireland and sets proposals to sustain rural Ireland by securing a fairer deal for rural households, creating and retaining jobs in rural communities, protecting rural schools and services, ensuring equal access to health services and maximising support for our Gaeltacht areas.